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Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

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Shat the Movies: 80's & 90's Best Film Review

The Manchurian Candidate (2004)

Mon, 31 Mar 2025

This week on the pod, we're diving into the high-stakes paranoia of The Manchurian Candidate (2004), a political thriller reboot that trades Cold War chills for post-Gulf War conspiracy. Denzel Washington stars as Major Ben Marco, a decorated soldier haunted by dreams suggesting something sinister happened during his time in Kuwait. With the help of an eerie performance by Liev Schreiber and a chillingly manipulative Meryl Streep, the film leans hard into psychological suspense but does the tension still land in 2024? Tune in as we revisit this remake, break down its big themes, and ask the ultimate question: Is The Manchurian Candidate still worth voting for?

Plot Summary:
In the 2004 political thriller The Manchurian Candidate, directed by Jonathan Demme, Denzel Washington stars as Major Ben Marco, a Gulf War veteran plagued by disturbing dreams and lingering suspicions about his past. A remake of the 1962 classic, the film updates the Cold War paranoia to a post-9/11 world of corporate influence, political manipulation, and psychological warfare.

Marco served alongside Sergeant Raymond Shaw (Liev Schreiber), who has since returned home a decorated war hero and rising political star. Shaw's mother, Senator Eleanor Prentiss Shaw (Meryl Streep), is a powerful and cunning politician pushing her son toward the vice presidency. But Marco begins to suspect that their wartime memories have been tampered with—and that Shaw may be the product of mind control by a shadowy multinational corporation known as Manchurian Global.

As Marco digs deeper, he uncovers a chilling conspiracy involving psychological conditioning, implanted memories, and a plan to manipulate the highest levels of the U.S. government. His grip on reality begins to waver as he races to uncover the truth and stop a sinister plot that could alter the future of American democracy.

Denzel Washington gives a powerful, haunted performance as a man unraveling a web of lies, while Meryl Streep delivers a chilling turn as an ambitious mother who will stop at nothing to seize power. The film blends intense suspense with thought-provoking commentary on political corruption, the military-industrial complex, and the dangers of unchecked influence.

Join our podcast review as we revisit this modern thriller, exploring its performances, themes, and whether this cerebral update of a classic still resonates in today’s political climate.

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Thelma & Louise (1991)

Sat, 22 Mar 2025

Strap in and sip some Wild Turkey as Shat The Movies takes a wild ride with Thelma & Louise! In this episode, the Shat Crew breaks down the iconic 1991 film that redefined the road-movie genre. We explore the unforgettable performances of Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, the feminist themes that sparked conversations for decades, and the breakout role that put Brad Pitt on the Hollywood map.

Did Thelma & Louise set the gold standard for female-led action films, or is it just a crime spree in a convertible? We discuss the film’s impact, its unforgettable ending, and how it holds up more than 30 years later. 

Plot Summary:

When two best friends, Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon), embark on a weekend road trip to escape their mundane lives, their journey takes a drastic turn. After a terrifying encounter at a roadside bar, the duo finds themselves on the run from the law, leading to a thrilling cross-country escape filled with stolen cars, unexpected romance, and a growing sense of rebellion. With the police closing in and their options dwindling, Thelma and Louise must make an impossible choice that will cement their place in cinematic history.

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Summer School (1987)

Sun, 16 Mar 2025

This week on "Shat the Movies," we’re heading to Summer School (1987), where a laid-back gym teacher, played by Mark Harmon, ends up teaching a summer school class full of misfit students. Join us as we break down the movie’s fun blend of comedy, heart, and unforgettable characters. Whether you're a fan or a first-time viewer, get ready for a laugh-filled trip back to the '80s!

Plot Summary:
In the 1987 comedy Summer School, directed by Carl Reiner, Mark Harmon stars as Freddy Shoop, a laid-back high school gym teacher whose summer plans take an unexpected detour when he’s forced to teach remedial English to a class of underachieving misfits. Shoop, more interested in surfing and relaxing than academics, has no choice but to take the job if he wants to keep his tenure.

At first, Shoop struggles to connect with his students, a rowdy group of slackers, class clowns, and troublemakers, including the horror-obsessed duo Chainsaw (Dean Cameron) and Dave (Gary Riley), the pregnant teenager Rhonda (Shawnee Smith), and the shy but determined Denise (Kelly Jo Minter). With no real teaching experience, Shoop’s unconventional methods involve field trips, bribery, and an anything-goes approach to learning, which earns him the students’ loyalty but draws the ire of the school’s administration.

Meanwhile, Shoop finds himself drawn to Robin Bishop (Kirstie Alley), a fellow teacher who is far more dedicated to her job but amused by Shoop’s antics. As the summer progresses, Shoop begins to take his responsibilities more seriously, realizing that his students need more than just an easy ride to pass their exams. With their academic futures on the line, Shoop and his students must find a way to turn their laziness into success before the final test.

Summer School is a quintessential 80s comedy, blending humor, heart, and a cast of quirky characters into an underdog story that celebrates unconventional teaching and second chances. Join our podcast review as we revisit this feel-good comedy, discussing its humor, memorable moments, and whether its charm still resonates today.

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The Abyss (1989)

Sun, 09 Mar 2025

James Cameron takes us two miles under the sea for an intense, visually stunning, and sometimes completely ridiculous deep-sea adventure in The Abyss (1989). This sci-fi classic introduces us to oil-rig roughnecks, paranoid Navy SEALs, and aliens who can manipulate water—but not basic human communication.

In this episode, Gene Lyons and Big D dive deep into The Abyss’ groundbreaking special effects, the film’s unrelenting tension, and Cameron’s signature mix of brilliance and insanity. Gene wrestles with his newfound fear of liquid breathing, while Big D wonders how Ed Harris survived a death-defying swim in nothing but a t-shirt. Plus, the hosts debate why James Cameron insists on writing dialogue for blue-collar workers when he’s clearly never met one.

From nuclear warheads at the bottom of the ocean to CPR-by-slap techniques, The Abyss is a movie that demands discussion. Is it a masterpiece, a mess, or both? Join us as we explore the depths of one of Cameron’s most ambitious projects.

Plot Summary: 

When a U.S. nuclear submarine mysteriously sinks in the Caribbean, a team of deep-sea oil drillers led by Virgil "Bud" Brigman (Ed Harris) is recruited to assist a group of Navy SEALs in the recovery mission. As tensions rise between the rig crew and the increasingly unstable SEAL leader, Lt. Hiram Coffey (Michael Biehn), the team discovers they are not alone in the ocean’s depths.

Dr. Lindsey Brigman (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), the rig’s designer and Bud’s estranged wife, encounters an advanced, non-terrestrial intelligence (NTI) living beneath the waves. Meanwhile, Coffey, suffering from high-pressure nervous syndrome, sets a nuclear warhead to destroy the unknown beings, forcing Bud to embark on a desperate deep-sea dive to disarm it.

Battling crushing pressure, limited oxygen, and human paranoia, Bud reaches the warhead, only to face what seems like certain death—until the NTIs intervene. In a breathtaking climax, the aliens reveal themselves, raising their colossal ship to the ocean’s surface and leaving humanity with a powerful message of peace.

With stunning underwater cinematography, groundbreaking visual effects, and an intense mix of sci-fi, thriller, and adventure, The Abyss remains one of James Cameron’s most ambitious and visually spectacular films.

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After Hours (1985)

Fri, 28 Feb 2025

In this episode, Big D and a very high Gene Lyons break down After Hours' absurd twists, New York’s bygone grit, and whether Griffin Dunne is the last true everyman leading man. Along the way, they debate Paul’s romantic prospects, the dangers of pre-cell phone nightlife, and whether David Lynch is actually a genius or just weird for weird’s sake.

Join us as we uncover After Hours’ hidden brilliance, discuss why Gene should never be left alone with a paper-mâché kit, and witness the power of 5mg gummies on podcasting.

Plot Summary: 

What happens when Martin Scorsese trades gangsters for bagel paperweights, punk rockers, and the strangest night in SoHo history? After Hours (1985) takes us on a surreal, darkly comedic odyssey through late-night Manhattan, where a hapless word processor named Paul (Griffin Dunne) just wants to make it home—but the city has other plans.

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